Over the last two years, Hawaii Island’s survival rate for people experiencing cardiac arrest in front of bystanders went from 4 percent to 6.8 percent.
The jump appears to be the result of efforts by the Hawaii Fire Department to train people in important life-saving techniques including performing chest compressions and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), according to Chris Honda, captain of the department’s Emergency Medical Services Bureau.
The Hilo Medical Center Foundation, in conjunction with partners including the fire department, the County of Hawaii, Hilo Medical Center, KTA Super Stores, the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, and more, will officially kick off on Feb. 24 the “Be a Lifesaver Hawaii” campaign.